Saint Patrick's Day, as we think of it, is mostly an American invention. Having grown up partly in Ireland I have to say that as a rule I've never met people who are more fantasy-prone about Ireland than Irish-Americans. But thankfully they are, as the money from tourism really helps the Republic, and single-handedly keeps the green beer industry afloat here in America.

There's a coffee cup on our kitchen countertop, back against the wall. It's been there for years. Nothing's in it, nobody uses it. But for some reason it's attained this position of prominence, while all the other coffee cups get put in the cupboard.